Sans Souci residents encouraged to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, June 30, 2019
Residents of Sans Souci, on the island of Wakenaam, have been encouraged to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities available.
During a community meeting at the Sans Souci Primary School, both the Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Minister of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, urged the residents to create jobs.
The Public Service Minister explained that funding is available through the Ministry of Business and the Small Business Bureau (SBB) for persons interested in starting their business ventures.
In her remarks, Minister Sarabo-Halley noted that “society has changed so much that government cannot create all the jobs that are needed… [What] we have tried to do is create opportunities so that jobs can come.”
Echoing her sentiments, Minister Scott encouraged the residents to form a co-op society and not depend on the private sector.
In addition to providing jobs, Minister Scott explained, “this can take care of marketing especially for the plantains that the island produces”.
Other issues addressed during the community meeting were the rehabilitation of the primary school’s playfield and the state of the roads. Before heading to the meeting, both ministers walked about the community and conducted a needs assessment.
The residents were assured that the concerns raised would be handed over to the subject ministers.
Ministers Scott and Sarabo-Halley were part of a larger delegation of government officials who travelled to Wakenaam, Leguan, Aliki and St. Cuthbert’s Mission to engage citizens at the grassroots level and get a first-hand report of their issues.
Images: Abike Barker